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Legacy on the Wall
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
Reina Laine
1 book1 followerReina Laine writes friendship-first young adult stories filled with coastal towns, found family, nostalgia, and the quiet moments that change everything.
Her debut novel, Legacy on the Wall, is set in the fictional Florida Gulf Coast town of Mangrove Point, where art, community, and one unfinished mural bring a group of teens together.
She lives in Florida with her family and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Her debut novel, Legacy on the Wall, is set in the fictional Florida Gulf Coast town of Mangrove Point, where art, community, and one unfinished mural bring a group of teens together.
She lives in Florida with her family and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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September 17, 2026I was distracted throughout the novel by questions.
Why is that high schooler making fun of someone else for being rich when she’s literally driving a Mercedes herself? Why is the entire friend group falling apart just because someone annoying is Kai’s cousin? The protagonist is acting like he betrayed her but like… why are you mad about who his cousin is? Why is the entire group randomly laughing? Should the protagonist really be running off to kayak by herself without a life jacket and without notifying anyone? Why are they all acting like it isn’t obvious what Avery did and like there isn’t a very simple solution to that problem?
Chapters are extremely short, sometimes only a few pages, and there were inconsistent shifts in POV. Third person limited, but randomly changing to other characters without rhyme or reason? At one point it shifts to the POV of a character that barely even makes an appearance in the story.
Honestly, if the author just went back and added a few pages to each chapter I think that would fix a lot of what’s wrong with the novel. Continuity, character development, and plot all suffer from a lack of substance despite there being 50+ chapters.
YA doesn’t need to mean lack of substance. Ella Enchanted, Z for Zachariah, The Book Thief. All great YA in completely different genres with great plots and character development. The reader needs to spend time with the characters, get to know the setting, and learn to care about what happens to them all. That takes pages of build out and you can’t do that if the chapter is just “they left school, ate french fries, then laughed”.
Forgot to mention, I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy. As a Florida girl myself I love reading books set in this state. Unfortunately this missed the mark for me.
Why is that high schooler making fun of someone else for being rich when she’s literally driving a Mercedes herself? Why is the entire friend group falling apart just because someone annoying is Kai’s cousin? The protagonist is acting like he betrayed her but like… why are you mad about who his cousin is? Why is the entire group randomly laughing? Should the protagonist really be running off to kayak by herself without a life jacket and without notifying anyone? Why are they all acting like it isn’t obvious what Avery did and like there isn’t a very simple solution to that problem?
Chapters are extremely short, sometimes only a few pages, and there were inconsistent shifts in POV. Third person limited, but randomly changing to other characters without rhyme or reason? At one point it shifts to the POV of a character that barely even makes an appearance in the story.
Honestly, if the author just went back and added a few pages to each chapter I think that would fix a lot of what’s wrong with the novel. Continuity, character development, and plot all suffer from a lack of substance despite there being 50+ chapters.
YA doesn’t need to mean lack of substance. Ella Enchanted, Z for Zachariah, The Book Thief. All great YA in completely different genres with great plots and character development. The reader needs to spend time with the characters, get to know the setting, and learn to care about what happens to them all. That takes pages of build out and you can’t do that if the chapter is just “they left school, ate french fries, then laughed”.
Forgot to mention, I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy. As a Florida girl myself I love reading books set in this state. Unfortunately this missed the mark for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2026
This was such a good book!! I live local to the fictional town of Mangrove Point, on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and could easily see myself in the locations, interacting with the characters. It was a lighthearted read and sucked me in from the very first chapter. I found myself thinking ahead, trying to envision what would happen to these teenagers I'd gotten to know, rooting for their successes and their friendships. I found myself turning page after page, waiting to see how it would all turn out. For a debut novel, I am most impressed. Two thumbs up, and I can't wait to see where the series goes!
September 22, 2026
I was given a copy of this book to read as an ARC reader.
I really enjoyed this book! It hit me right in the nostalgia. The characters are relatable and the storytelling really allowed me to feel like I was in the town of Mangrove Point! This book is an easy read and perfect for teens and young adults (or young at heart)!
I really enjoyed this book! It hit me right in the nostalgia. The characters are relatable and the storytelling really allowed me to feel like I was in the town of Mangrove Point! This book is an easy read and perfect for teens and young adults (or young at heart)!
September 23, 2026
Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews